New boy Thornley keen to impress

New Leeds Carnegie signing Iain Thornley says he is excited about the challenge of making a name for himself this season in the Championship just like another former Wigan Rugby League convert; Chris Ashton.

Thornley swapped codes midway through last season to join Sale Sharks and has now come to Headingley Carnegie as part of a new relationship between the Edgeley Park club and Leeds Carnegie.

He says the prospect of playing on a regular basis is something that excites him, he added, "It is great that Sale and Leeds have this arrangement and players can come over here and play at a really good standard in the Championship. This year there are only five games in the A League and that is not enough to keep you up to speed. I feel I have adapted to Union now since coming across from Wigan nine months ago but the thing that will help me most is game time.

"Chris Ashton got the chance to play in the Championship when he first signed for Northampton and that has been the making of him. You can see how is confidence has grown and that shows what can be achieved," added Thornley.

Kevin Sinfield MBE, Leeds Rhinos greatest ever captain, will leave the club at the end of the 2015 season to finish his career playing Rugby Union with sister club Yorkshire Carnegie having agreed an 18 month contract with Bryan Redpath's side.

Yorkshire Carnegie Head Coach Bryan Redpath has made just one enforced change to the side that defeated Plymouth Albion last Saturday for this Sunday's crunch meeting with Jersey at Headingley Carnegie, kick off 3pm.